I'm in an interesting situation. I don't want my apartment painted. But I complained to HPD about a different issue, and they issued a violation a bunch of things, including requiring painting under Section 27-2013. My understanding has always been that the tenant has a right not to get the apartment painted if he so desires. I certainly didn't ask for this violation, I did not complain, and the condition of the walls is fine.
My reading of the law is that painting is voluntary on the part of the tenant, and also that a landlord cannot obtain access for painting against the tenant's consent as it is not strictly speaking a repair.